Why is so much council business done outside of the chambers?
To The Expositor and Concerned Assigninack Taxpayers and Citizens:
Is accountability possible without transparency? How can taxpayers be informed or be aware of a council’s intentions or actions if so little council business is done at public meetings and much is done in “closed sessions” or even in secret?
Council and staff seem to hide behind section 239 of the Municipal Act, which allows some issues to be dealt with “in camera,” however, only two categories qualify: personnel issues (where an individual or individuals could be identified in discussion of an issue) and purchase or disposal of land! As I have learned recently, nothing prevents a municipality from dealing with a matter in an open meeting even though the legislation allows the municipality to deal with that matter in a closed meeting if it wishes to, according to the publication Municipal World.
In my three-year term on council, I remember only two closed sessions, but times and transparency have changed. In 2012 there were fewer than 10 and in 2013, more than 30. In 2017, there were 20.
This year, who knows?
Why? Now the time is getting closer. The 2018 budget is due to be passed at the council meeting on April 17. There have been no public meetings for input, to ask questions, or express concerns. Instead, a citizen’s issue or concern can be written down and sent to the clerk at the municipal office by April 16. The tax rate will be set, but what are we doing? What are we not doing? How is it to be paid for?
We have borrowed money from reserves for many years, to be paid back over time. How can it go on? Please ask questions or state your concerns to council and the administration as soon as possible. Time is not on our side.
Valerie Phillips
Concerned Assiginack Taxpayer
